Note: I got the washing machines at this point.
Patches here to fit with Hondo's post.
"OK, I'll get them. Just make some room in the Bronco for them." Fernando says, "Come on Macey..."
Hondo continues to shop with the girls for food and supplies and moves things about in the Bronco to make things fit better, while Fernando continues walking about the market, going into the North-Western area which was closer to the Hotel they were in before. There he finds a few interesting items and services, including a wash and dry service that many of the vendors are using. He walks in with Macey, seeing about 30 small washer/dryers chugging away in doing the laundry for various clients until he notices 'Mrs. Clean' there. He decides to approach her.
"Hey! This area yours too?" Fernando walks up to her with Macey at his side.
"Sure 'nuff! Most people would rather pay me to wash their clothes and things than to buy one of my washing machines and wash themselves." Mrs Clean explains.
"How many do you have? How does this work? And do you got some to sell?" Fernando asks.
"My, you're sure loaded with questions today." Mrs. Clean says, then she asks, "How many are you willing to buy?"
"Two, maybe four, if the price is right. But I need to know how it works first." Fernando says.
"OK." Mrs. Clean says as she begins to
explain and point out a few things, "First off you need a source of clean water. For me, I got those four 55-gallon drums for my clean water supply. Second a
generator to power them up, like this one for me powers four
washer-dryers - 8 generators, 32 washer dryers. And a couple of buckets. They take about 2 gallons (a bucket fill) of water. and about 5 pounds of clothes. It don't sound like much but it is a lot. Put the clothes in the washer, pour in the water, and the soap, and let it run for about 10 - 15 minutes. Then collect the water in the bucket as it drains out and you can pour it out in a drain. Then pour in another bucket full of water for rinsing. When that's done, put the clothes in the spin dryer and let it spin for about 5 minutes and the clothes comes out damp-dry. Let it hang for it to air dry and you got clean clothes. We only use
nature safe soaps and only a little bit will do you. You do not need to throw in a whole cap full - just a drizzle will clean your clothes. Still interested in buying?"
"How much?" Fernando asks.
"They usually go for $40 in gold a piece. You said you wanted four?" Mrs. Clean says and asks.
"That's a damn good price and the machines are
the right size too." Fernando begins to say.
"I'll throw in the four machines, and a jug of soap for each machine for $100 in gold." Mrs. Clean says, adding, "I need to sell'em since I got so many of them."
"Four? Damn. I do not know how I'm going to carry all that." Fernando says.
"I can trust you. I'll lend ya my
pull cart for you to carry them to your camper and come back with it." Mrs. Clean says. She then yells, "Ralshpere!!! Bring Over The Pull Cart Here! NOW!!!!"
A small meek figure of a man comes to them pulling the pull cart behind him, "I'm sorry dear..."
"Go back and take care of the machines in section 1. I got a sale to make here." Mrs. Clean tells him.
"Yes dear." Ralsphere cautiously leave. At the same time, Mrs. Clean ducks into a large trailer and comes out with four washers still new in their boxes, placing them into the pull wagon, followed by the four jugs of nature safe soap one for each machine, as promised.
"There you go." Mrs. Clean says as she gives the handle of the pull cart to Fernando.
"Many thanks. I'll be back with your cart as soon as possible." He tells her as he hands her three gold coins - one $100 and two $10 gold coins.
"Hey." Mrs. Clean says, "You over paid me."
"Keep it. You did me a couple of favors here, you should be rewarded in that." Fernando tells her, he then says, "Come on, Macey. We need to get these back." He then gets on the radio, "Hondo, they are going to need flashlights and lanterns, and I think that will be it for everyone!"